WorkCover.Watching out for you.

WORKPLACE

AMENITIES

WorkCover NSW 400 Kent Street Sydney NSW 2000GPO Box 5364 Sydney NSW 2001 Client Contact Centre 13 10 50Email contact@workcover.nsw.gov.au Website www.workcover.nsw.gov.auCatalogue No. 318 ISBN:1 876995 30 0 ©Copyright WorkCover NSW 2001Production & printing by NSW Government Printing Service - Tel: 9743 8777

WorkCover NSW Health and Safety Code of PracticeCODE OF PRACTICE 2001

1

What is an Industry Code of Practice? 2

Preface 3What are ‘Amenities’ and what role do they play in workplace health and safety? 3

How to use this information 3What is this code of practice about? 3Who is the code of practice for? 3When to use the information 3

What do the symbols used in this code of practice mean? 4

Chapter 1 Establishment 51.1 Title 51.2 Purpose 51.3 Scope 51.4 Commencement 51.5 Authority 5

Chapter 2 How to establish the special needs of your workplace 62.1 Linking amenities with health, safety and welfare 7

Chapter 3 Consultation at the workplace 8

Chapter 4 Identify the requirements for amenities 94.1 Nature of the work undertaken 94.2 Size and location of the place of work 94.3 Composition of the workforce (men, women,

people with special needs) 94.4 Type of workplace 10

Chapter 5 Putting your information into action 115.1 Toilets 115.2 Rest rooms 135.3 Shelter sheds 135.4 Seating 135.5 Dining areas 145.6 Change rooms 155.7 Drinking water 165.8 Lockers and storage of personal belongings 175.9 Washing facilities 17

Chapter 6 Who needs to know about your workplace amenities? 196.1 Managers 196.2 Employers 196.3 Contractors and visitors 19

Chapter 7 Checking that the workplace amenities are adequate 20

Appendix 1 The most likely questions a WorkCover Inspector will ask about your amenities 21

Appendix 2 Some frequently asked questions 22

Appendix 3 Amenities planning checklist 23

Appendix 4 Sample amenities plan: temporary workplace – Garden 25

Appendix 5 Sample amenities plan: permanent workplace – office 26

Contents

An approved industry code of practice is a practical guide toachieving the standard of safety required by the Occupational Healthand Safety Act 2000 and OHS Regulations 2001 for a particulararea of work.

An approved industry code of practice should be followed unlessthere is an alternative course of action, which achieves the same orbetter standard of health and safety in the workplace.

An industry code of practice is approved by the Minister forIndustrial Relations. It comes into effect on the day the notice ofthis approval is published in the NSW Government Gazette or on theday specified in the Gazette notice.

An approved industry code of practice is designed to be used inconjunction with the Act and Regulations but does not have thesame legal force. A person or company cannot be prosecuted forfailing to comply with an approved industry code of practice.

However, in proceedings under the Act or Regulations, failure toobserve a relevant approved industry code of practice can be used asevidence that a person or company has contravened or failed tocomply with the provisions of the Act or Regulations.

A WorkCover Authority Inspector can cite an approved industry codeof practice in a direction or in an improvement or prohibition notice,indicating the measures that should be taken to remedy an allegedcontravention or non-compliance. Failure to comply with arequirement in an improvement or prohibition notice is an offence.

In summary an approved INDUSTRY CODE OF PRACTICE:• gives practical guidance on how the required standard of health,

safety and welfare can be achieved in an area of work;

• should be followed, unless there is an alternative course ofaction which achieves the same or better standard of health andsafety in the workplace;

• can be used in support of the preventive enforcement provisionsof the Occupational Health and Safety Act;

• can be used to support prosecutions for failing to comply withor contravening the Act or Regulations.

2

What is an industrycode of practice?

3

Preface

What are ‘amenities’ andwhat role do they play inworkplace health andsafety?

How to use thisinformation

The aim of this code of practice is to assist employers in decidingon appropriate amenities for the welfare of their employees. Itprovides practical advice on implementing the requirements of theOccupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001.

‘Workplace amenities’ are facilities provided for the welfare orpersonal hygiene needs of employees. They include toilets, restrooms, shelter sheds, seating, dining rooms, change rooms, drinkingwater, lockers and washing facilities.

The provision of workplace amenities can help minimise illnessesand diseases, which may result from the absence of appropriatehygiene and welfare facilities.

• What is this code of practice about?This code of practice provides information to assist you indetermining appropriate amenities, and in turn ensuring welfarefor people in your workplace. If you follow the advice set outhere, you will be well on the way to complying withresponsibilities for the provision of amenities outlined inoccupational health and safety laws. This guidance should beread in conjunction with the OHS Regulation 2001.

• Who is this code of practice for?This code of practice is for employers, managers, health andsafety representatives, OHS committee members, employees,unions and employer organisations who need to know aboutestablishing or improving workplace amenities.

• When to use the informationUse this code of practice to assess your arrangements foramenities – are they adequate and effective? If you are settingup a new business, this code of practice should be your step-by-step guide to determining your requirements for amenities.

4

What do thesymbols used inthis code ofpractice mean?

To help you work out what you require, a number of symbols areused to highlight things you need to take into account and tools tohelp you.

Assess the risks inyour workplace

Consult andcommunicate withemployees

Tools that can helpyou work out yourplan

Legal obligations that youmust follow

Questions you (or others)might ask to clarifyissues

The process of findingthings that cause harm,working out how big aproblem they are andthen fixing them

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Chapter 1

1.1 Title

1.2 Purpose

1.3 Scope

1.4 Commencement

1.5 Authority

EstablishmentThis is the Code of Practice for Workplace Amenities.

This code sets out and explains the requirements for amenities inthe workplace, to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employeeswhen at work. It provides practical guidance on determining what isappropriate for the particular circumstances of each workplace.

This Code of Practice applies to all workplaces in NSW, apart from:

(a) Agricultural workplaces, covered by the Code of Practice:Accommodation and Amenities for Rural Agricultural Work;

(b) Construction workplaces, covered by the Code of Practice:Amenities for Construction Work; and

(c) Mines within the meaning of the Coal Mines Regulation Act1982 or the Mines Inspection Act 1901.

Note: The former OHS shop provisions contained in Part 3 of theFactories Shops and Industries Act 1962 and the Factories (Healthand Safety) General Regulation 1913 continue to have effect. Therecommendations contained in this Code should be considered inconjunction with those provisions.

This code commences on the date it is published in the NSWGovernment Gazette.

This is an industry code of practice approved by the Minister ofIndustrial Relations under section 43 of the Occupational Healthand Safety Act 2000.

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Chapter 2 How to establish the special needs of yourworkplace

Amenities are facilities provided for the welfare or personal hygieneneeds of persons. They include toilets, rest rooms, shelter sheds,seating, dining rooms, change rooms, drinking water, lockers andwashing facilities.

The provision of appropriate workplace amenities is important for thebasic health and welfare of employees. To some extent, workplaceamenities also depend upon your industry and the specific activitiesrequired by your operations. To evaluate your amenities needs,employers should understand and analyse the workplace activitiesand hazards, and consult their employees when doing this.

Employers are required to have regard for all the circumstances ofthe work, including:

(a) The nature of the work undertaken at the place of work;

(b) The size and location of the place of work; and

(c) The number of men and women at the place of work.

An employer must ensure that appropriate amenities areavailable for all employees while they are at work. Theamenities must be maintained in a safe and healthy condition.

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Workplace Amenity Link to employee health, safety and welfare

Toilets Needed for basic health and welfare. Clean and hygienic toiletsreduce exposure to germs and disease.

Rest rooms Needed for recovery or rest if suffering an injury or illness at work.Provides an area for short-term respite if employees are fatigued.

Shelter sheds Needed for respite from weather (e.g. heat, cold, rain, wind). Theyreduce the likelihood of stress due to heat or cold workingenvironments.

Seating Provides the opportunity to rotate from standing to sitting, thusreducing fatigue and stress on the legs and back.

Dining rooms Provides a hygienic area for the consumption of food, reducing thelikelihood of food being contaminated by substances used in workprocesses, or by infectious agents.

Provision of drinking water Needed for basic health and welfare. Water reduces the likelihoodof heat stress for employees undertaking physically demandingtasks. It is essential for bodily function, especially kidneys andbladder.

Washing facilities Needed for personal hygiene. Enables employees to removehazardous or dirty substances associated with the work process fromhands/bodies.

Change rooms Enables employees to change dirty or contaminated work clothing,reducing employee exposure to the contaminating substances.

Lockers Needed for the storage of personal belongings or clothing, so thatsubstances associated with the work process do not contaminatethem. Needed for the storage of personal protective equipment toensure it remains clean.

First aid facilities and rooms are additional to that above. For advice on the requirements for first aidfacilities or rooms see WorkCover’s Health and Safety Guide: First Aid in the Workplace.

2.1 Linking amenities The table following sets out the basic types of amenities and with health, safety explains how they link with employee health and safety.and welfare

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Chapter 3 Consultation at the workplace

Employers must consult their employees about issues that mayaffect their health, safety and welfare at work.

Consultation involves: sharing information with employees; givingthem the opportunity to express their views before decisions aremade; valuing their views and taking them into account.

Consultation is based on recognition that employee input andparticipation improves decision-making about health and safetymatters. Consultation will assist in developing safe systems of workbased on: the identification of hazards that may be present; and theassessment of the risks these hazards might give rise to.

Consultation must occur in the following circumstances:

• When changes that may affect health, safety or welfare areproposed to the:• work premises;• systems or methods of work; or • plant or substances used for work.

• When risks to health and safety arising from work are assessed.

• When decisions are made about the measures to be taken toeliminate or control those risks.

• When introducing or altering the procedures for monitoringthose risks.

• When decisions are made about the adequacy of facilities foremployee welfare.

• When decisions are made about the procedures for consultation.

Employers must establish an OHS consultation mechanism and needto consult employees about what the consultation arrangements aregoing to be.

Readers should refer to the WorkCover NSW Code of Practice: OHSConsultation.

Employers are required by the OHS Act 2000 to consult withemployees when taking steps to assess and control workplacerisks.

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Chapter 4

4.1 Nature of the workundertaken

4.2 Size and location ofthe place of work

4.3 Composition of theworkforce (men, women,people with specialneeds)

Identifying the requirements for amenities

In assessing the requirements for amenities, the following factorsshould be considered, in consultation with employees.

The type of work performed will influence the amenities required.For example, amenities provided for office employees may differfrom those provided for employees undertaking dirty, hot or arduoustasks (such as foundry work or fire fighting), or for employeesworking in hospitals or nursing homes. Indeed, different areaswithin the one workplace may have different amenity requirements,depending on the tasks being undertaken and the equipment beingused. For example, those who do dirty work will require washingand showering facilities.

Consider whether the place of work is in a building or structure, orwhether work is undertaken outdoors, or in a remote area. Work mayalso be undertaken away from base e.g. sales representatives ortradespersons. The following questions should be asked:

• Does the place of work cover an extensive area, or is workundertaken in a relatively compact location?

• Do employees travel between workplaces, to numerous worksites, or other locations?

• Is the place of work close to appropriate amenity facilities or ina remote area?

• How long would it take to access the nearest amenity facilitiesif necessary?

The number of employees at the workplace will influence theamenities required. Facilities should ensure adequate privacy andsecurity for the needs of men and women. People with disabilitiesor special needs should also be provided with appropriate amenities.

An employer must ensure that appropriate amenities areavailable for all of the employer’s employees while they are atwork. The appropriateness of amenities is to be determinedhaving regard to all of the circumstances of the case,including: (a) the nature of work undertaken at the place of work;(b) the size and location of the place of work;(c) the number of men and women at the place of work.

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Workplaces include any places where people may go while at work.In determining what is required, consider the type of workplace (e.g.indoors or outdoors), and whether it is permanent or temporary.

The table below describes different types of permanent andtemporary workplaces.

Type of workplace Examples

Permanent – fixed in a building Office, factory, hospital, school.

Permanent – fixed or mobile, Bus and truck drivers, airline but not always in a building crews.

Temporary – seasonal Tourism, show workers, recreational workers (e.g. ski instructors).

Temporary – where employees Tradespersons (e.g. plumbers, work in a one off situation for electricians), gardeners, hours, days or weeks emergency services.

There may be other factors relevant to your workplace, in addition tothose above. An example is the time of work, such as in shift work,where workers may not have access to facilities that are closed atnight.

The WorkCover NSW Code of Practice for Risk Assessment can alsohelp you in assessing your needs.

4.4 Type of workplace

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Chapter 5 Putting your information into action Having assessed the workplace requirements, you are now ready towork out what specific amenities are appropriate for the welfare andpersonal hygiene of persons in the place of work. These decisionsshould be based on what is reasonably practicable in thecircumstances.

Apart from the provisions in OHS Regulation 2001, you should alsobe aware of the requirements of the Building Code of Australia. TheBuilding Code of Australia sets out requirements for the design,construction and modification of facilities in a building. The localgovernment building requirements should also be checked.

It is essential that employees have ready access to toilet facilities forthe maintenance of good health.

Research has shown that where toilets are not readily accessible,employees may reduce their fluid intake to compensate. A reducedfluid intake is not recommended and can lead to health problemssuch as bladder and kidney disease, or heat stress in hot conditions.Where toilets are not accessible, people may sometimes try to delaygoing, which is also inadvisable, and may lead to health problems inthe longer term such as incontinence.

It is preferable that toilets are connected to the sewer. If this is notpracticable, self-contained freshwater flushing or open-closetportable toilets should be provided. Toilets not connected to thesewer must be serviced regularly to ensure that they are maintainedin a sanitary condition.

Each toilet should be fitted with a hinged seat and lid, and hingeddoor capable of locking from the inside. Adequate and hygienicmeans for the disposal of sanitary items should be provided forfemale employees. Toilets should be kept clean and hygienic at alltimes, and be positioned to ensure privacy for users.

The number of toilets required depends on the number ofemployees, or users of the facilities, and the type of building. Inassessing needs, also consider how many visitors or members of thepublic might come to your workplace. Consult the Building Code ofAustralia for specific guidance on the number of toilets required,however the following ratios will be applicable to most workplaces:

Employees Closet Pan(s) Urinals

Males 1 per 20 males 1 per 25 males

Females 1 per 15 females Not Applicable

5.1 Toilets

5.1.1 Health reasons

5.1.2 Design

5.1.3 How many toilets areneeded?

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5.1.4 Considerations fordifferent types of workplaces

• Permanent workplaces in buildings or structures

For workplaces within buildings, the Building Code of Australiaoutlines the ratio of toilets to employees, and the specificationsfor toilets. In most cases, employers are expected to providetheir own toilet facilities for employees, rather that relying onaccess to external public toilets.

Separate toilets should be provided for male and femaleemployees, and should be clearly signposted. However, in somesmall businesses with only a few employees (e.g. less than 10)a unisex facility may be provided, as long as the privacy of maleand female employees can be assured. In such situations, onetoilet, one washbasin and a means of disposing of sanitaryitems is required.

Toilets must be accessible, preferably located inside a building,or as close as possible to the workplace to control any risk toemployees’ safety. They should be installed to prevent anyodours escaping.

In multiple storey buildings, toilets should be located on atleast every second storey. Where shops are located in ashopping complex, the owner of the complex should providesufficient toilets to satisfy the needs of all the shops. Largeremployers within shopping complexes, such as departmentstores and supermarkets would reasonably be expected toprovide their own toilets to facilitate quick access foremployees. Further guidance is provided in the Building Codeof Australia.

• Short-term temporary workplaces, and workplaces in remote areas

Short-term temporary workplaces include maintenance of parksand gardens. This type of short-term workplace, or workplace ina remote area, requires the provision of temporary toilets.

Any temporary toilet should be located in a secure place, withsafe access. Temporary toilets must be installed so as they areprevented from toppling over or becoming unstable, to ensurethe safety of employees. Privacy (a lockable door), lighting, andventilation should be provided.

• Workplaces away from base locations

Reasonable access to toilet facilities needs to be provided foremployees working away from base locations and at outdoorwork sites. These include gardeners, bus drivers, emergencyservice personnel, sales representatives and couriers.

The amenity may be in the form of access to public toilets, orthe provision of temporary toilets. However, the employer mustensure access is available while they are at work.

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5.2 Rest Rooms

5.3 Shelter Sheds

5.4 Seating

Employees may need access to a rest area for a period of short-termrespite while at work. The need for rest may be due to illness, injuryor fatigue.

Rest rooms may take a number of forms. If there is a first aid room,the rest area facilities may be part of that room. Alternatively, aquiet office with a comfortable chair may serve as a rest area. If it isnot practicable to provide an appropriate rest area within the placeof work, then other arrangements may be adequate. This mayinclude transporting the employee to a nearby medical clinic, orhome. Some employees may have different needs for rest areas. Forexample, the rest area for long distance truck drivers may be thesleeper berth behind their seat, or in a busy call centre or hospital,employees might need time out from their work activities.

In general, a rest area should be:

• clean, hygienic and comfortable (e.g. comfortable seating );

• separated from the main working area (though not necessarily aseparate room);

• quiet and well ventilated;

• conveniently accessible to toilets and washing facilities.

Outdoor workers, such as road maintenance workers and gardeners,should be provided with reasonable access to shelter if weatherconditions make work unsafe, for example, high winds, lightning,rain or very hot weather.

In some situations where employees have a vehicle nearby, this mayprovide appropriate short-term shelter. Where larger numbers ofworkers require shelter a shed or caravan may be needed. Portableshade canopies may also provide shelter against the heat. In somesituations, access to appropriate nearby public shelter (for example,rotunda in the park, awnings under nearby buildings) may besuitable.

Employees should be provided with seating appropriate to the tasksbeing undertaken.

An assessment of work activity, in consultation with employees,should consider whether the work is best carried out in a seated orstanding position (or a combination of the two). Ideally, employeesshould have a mix of seated and standing tasks – neither prolongedsitting nor standing is desirable.

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5.5 Dining Areas5.5.1 Basic requirements

Many tasks are best done in a seated position – screen based tasks,fine component assembly, tasks involving the frequent use of footcontrols. For tasks best undertaken in a seated position, employeesshould be provided with suitable seating. The seat design should:

(a) be appropriate for the work performed;

(b) enable the worker to adopt a comfortable, ergonomically soundworking position; • be fully adjustable to accommodate different sized

employees;• provide good body support, especially for the low back;• enable good foot support – this may mean the use of a

footrest which should be moveable if necessary.

Some standing tasks can be done using a sit/stand chair – forexample, some process or inspection work. This means that theemployee can prop themselves on the chair while still having theflexibility to undertake the standing task.

If the job is primarily carried out while standing, but the nature ofthe work allows the worker to sit from time to time, appropriateseating should be provided. This allows the worker to vary theirposition between sitting and standing.

Employees need to be provided with hygienic facilities for eatingtheir meals and for preparing and storing food.

In some workplaces, mixing working and eating areas can createrisks to health and safety. Substances or processes used in theworkplace may have the potential to contaminate food, posing a riskto employees. In some situations, mixing working and eating areasmay have the potential to spoil work being done, or equipment beingused, e.g. crumbs in sensitive equipment. In such workplaces,employees need to be provided with appropriate facilities for eatingduring meal breaks. In many situations, an area within theworkplace for making tea and coffee and preparing and storing foodmight be all that is needed.

In all workplaces, appropriate systems for the removal of rubbishassociated with eating and dining areas should also be implemented.

The appropriate amenities for your workplace will be determined byexamining the assessment factors. A range of options could beconsidered appropriate:

• For large permanent workplacesA dedicated dining or eating area may be provided. The diningarea should be separated from the work area and protected fromweather. It should provide hot and cold running water; facilitiesfor washing and storage of utensils; and hygienic storage andheating of food. Adequate numbers of tables and seats shouldbe provided, as well as the appropriate crockery and cutlery.

• For smaller permanent workplacesWhere dining facilities are not practicable, there should at leastbe access to a separate area, which has a sink with running

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5.6 Change Rooms

5.6.1 What type of changeroom is needed?

water, a clean storage cupboard, a facility for boiling water anda refrigerator to avoid food spoilage. In workplaces where workprocesses may contaminate food, no matter how small thoseworkplaces are, a separate dining room is required.

• For temporary or remote workplacesWhere the work involves travelling between different workplaces,or is remote or seasonal, employees need reasonable access todining facilities. This may involve organising rosters for mobileworkers (such as bus drivers or couriers) to ensure that they areback at their base location for meal breaks. Alternatively,mobile workers such as sales representatives may take theirmeal breaks en route.

It may be determined appropriate for some temporaryworkplaces, to provide portable dining facilities. Mobilecaravans or transportable lunchrooms are suitable.

Employees working in remote areas, such as loggers or miningexploration workers, may face severe constraints in diningfacilities. At times the only enclosed facility available to themmay be their vehicle. In this instance portable food storagefacilities may be required, such as a car fridge or insulatedlunch box.

Sometimes employees need to change clothes before, during or afterwork. Operating theatre workers, meat workers and asbestosremovalists are in this group. This enables the removal of clothingthat may be contaminated with substances from the work process.In other situations, employees may need to change out of a uniformthat is required to be worn at work. In all of these circumstances,access to a change room is required for privacy reasons.

When establishing change rooms, consider:

Privacy and security needs: separate change rooms should beprovided for males and females. In some small workplaces, as longas the privacy of individuals can be assured by administrative means(e.g. an "engaged" sign on the door), only one change room may benecessary. The room should be secure and lockable.

Space requirements: change rooms need sufficient space andadequate seating to accommodate the maximum number of peoplechanging their clothes at any one time.

Location: the room should be separate from other parts of theworkplace, in a position convenient to washing and toilet facilities.

Fittings: the room should contain adequate storage space forclothes, a reasonable number of hooks and appropriately positionedmirrors.

Seating: suitable seating (e.g. benches) should be provided toaccommodate the numbers of people likely to be using the room atany one time.

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5.6.2 Change rooms fortemporary workplaces

5.7 Drinking Water

Special requirements for hazardous substances: where the workinvolves the wearing of protective clothing due to hazardoussubstances (e.g. asbestos work, lead processing, electroplating),special decontamination changing facilities may be needed. Thisspecial change room should be separate from other changing,washing and toilet facilities.

Special requirements for wet outdoor work: some outdoor workers,such as emergency services personnel, and parks and gardensmaintenance workers, may regularly get wet during the course oftheir work. As wet clothing and footwear may be a risk to theirhealth and safety, drying facilities for clothes and shoes should bearranged.

Portable changing facilities may be needed for temporary workplacessuch as road maintenance sites. In these situations a caravan orother portable change room may be used.

Where the work is in a remote area, or involves travelling betweendifferent workplaces, reasonable access to change areas may need tobe organised. This may, for example, involve employees being ableto use the facilities provided at the base location at the beginningand end of each shift.

An adequate supply of clean drinking water must be provided at allworkplaces, and be readily accessible for all employees. Drinkingenough fluids is essential for normal body functioning, especiallybladder and kidney function.

In general, drinking points should be:

• positioned where they can be easily accessed by employees;

• close to where hot or strenuous work is being undertaken toreduce the likelihood of dehydration or heat stress;

• separate from toilet or washing facilities to avoid contaminationof the drinking water.

The temperature of the drinking water should be at or below 24degrees Celsius. This may be achieved by:

• refrigeration of the water;

• provision of non-contaminated ice;

• shading of water pipes and storage containers from the sun.

Where connection to a water supply is possible, the drinking watermust be presented in a hygienic manner. This may involve:

• a drinking fountain, where the water is delivered in an upwardjet;

• a supply of disposable cups or washable glasses.

Where connection to a water supply is not possible (for example insome remote or rural outdoor workplaces), drinking water must beprovided by other means. The risk assessment will determine themost appropriate alternative, perhaps individual water bottles, awater bag or dispenser. To avoid the spread of germs, drinking watershould not be dipped from a shared container, and workers shouldnot drink directly from a shared container.

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5.8 Lockers and storage

5.9 Washing Facilities

5.9.1 Hand washing facilities

Employees should be provided with space to store personalbelongings (such as handbags and coats) while at work.

Personal protective clothing and equipment should also be storedand secured to ensure that it will be available for use when nextrequired.

Many items of PPE should not be transferred from worker to worker.These include respirators and moulded earplugs that have beenfitted to provide maximum protection for their owner. There is alsopotential for transmission of disease if items such as these areshared.

The safe storage of personal belongings may be more difficult formobile workers, such as parks and gardens or road maintenanceworkers. In these cases, temporary lockable containers stored in asecure place may be appropriate. Employees working from avehicle, such as sales representatives or couriers, may be able to usethe vehicle as their lockable, secure space.

In some circumstances, work involves the use of tools provided bythe employee. In these situations, secure, weatherproof storage ofthe tools during working and non-working hours should be organised.

Where people need to change their clothes during the course of theirwork, a locker may be required. It should be:

• big enough to store the personal belongings;

• fitted with a hook on the back of the door, coat hanging space,and a shelf;

• fitted with a door capable of being locked;

• positioned so that there is adequate space to change clothes infront of the locker; and,

• located in an accessible but secure place.

An employer must provide access to suitable hand washing facilitiesto enable employees to maintain standards of personal hygiene.Depending on the nature of work undertaken, hands will requirewashing at different times (for example, after handling chemicals,changing children’s nappies, or handling greasy machinery).

Hand washing basins should be separate from troughs or sinks usedin connection with the work process. The workplace assessment willdetermine where they should be positioned, but in general theyshould be located within easy access of:

• work areas;

• dining or eating areas;

• toilets.

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5.9.2 How many hand basinsare required?

5.9.3 Showering facilities

5.9.4 Considerations fordifferent types of workplaces

The washing facility should be protected from weather, and providedwith an adequate supply of non-irritating soap (preferably from asoap dispenser), and hygienic hand drying facilities (such asautomatic air dryers or paper towels).

The ratio of hand washing basins to employees, and specificationsfor basins depends on the number of users, the type of building andthe nature of the work. Consult the Building Code of Australia forinformation about the number of basins required for your workplace(e.g. there are special provisions for certain workplaces such ashealth care buildings, schools, and early childhood centres), howeverthe following ratio will be adequate for most workplaces:

Employees Wash Basins

Males 1 per every 30 males

Females 1 per every 30 females

Jobs such as fire fighting, work in abattoirs, foundry work, welding,and police search and rescue are examples of situations whereshowering facilities may be required. Such jobs may involve dirty,hot or arduous work. The appropriate ratio of showers to employeeswill be determined by the nature of the work.

Separate showering facilities should be provided for male and femaleemployees. However, in small or temporary workplaces where theprivacy of male and female employees can be assured, it may beacceptable to provide one shower. Each shower area should have alockable door, and non-slip flooring.

• Permanent workplaces Clean hot and cold water should be provided for washingfacilities at permanent workplaces.

• Temporary workplacesWhere washing facilities are required at temporary worklocations, the facilities should be provided with clean water as aminimum. If possible, hot water should also be provided. Insome situations, individual plastic washbasins or other portableequipment may need to be provided.

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Who needs to know about your workplaceamenities?Employers need to ensure that managers and supervisors understandthe amenity requirements and provisions for the workplace.Managers and supervisors will be accountable for making sure thatamenities are available for employees and maintained in a safe andhealthy condition.

Employees need to know where they can access the amenitiesprovided for their health and welfare, such as toilets, change roomsand washing facilities. The appropriate positioning of amenities andclearly visible signs will help to make sure that employees knowwhere the amenities are located.

The induction of new employees should include a walk-through ofthe workplace, pointing out relevant amenities. Consider also theneeds of employees with languages other than English, and makesure signs are appropriate for everyone’s needs.

Access needs to be ensured, for example for those who needpermission to leave their workstations to go to the toilet – areplacement might be needed.

All people entering the workplace should be provided withinformation about relevant amenities, such as toilets and washingfacilities. This may be done using signs and/or written information,and if necessary explained by the receptionist or the person to whomthey report on arrival.

Chapter 6

6.1 Managers

6.2 Employees

6.3 Contractors andvisitors

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Checking that the workplace amenities areadequateThere may already be amenities for employees in your workplace. Itis important that you know whether or not they continue to meet theneeds of employees – preferably before the health and welfare of aperson is compromised.

(a) Periodically review the amenities, involving the people whohave accountabilities for health and safety. If new informationis obtained which identifies a previously unidentified need,review the provision of amenities.

(b) If work practices are modified, or new work practicesintroduced, review the amenities provided against theassessment factors to ensure they are still adequate.

(c) If an incident impacting on the health and welfare ofemployees does occur, review the amenities provided, andmake changes if necessary.

(d) Ensure that cleaning and maintenance are carried out (e.g. areconsumable items such as soap and toilet paper replenishedregularly?).

Chapter 7

An employer must ensure that any amenities or accommodationprovided for the welfare of employees are maintained in a safeand healthy condition.

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The most likely questions a WorkCoverInspector will ask about your amenities• How many people work on this site, and are the toilets and

washing facilities adequate?

• For outdoor sites, in the case of bad weather, where canemployees take shelter?

• What consultation has occurred to ensure that the amenitiesprovided meet the needs of the health and welfare ofemployees?

• Where can employees store their personal protective equipment?

• What facilities are available when employees undertake workrequiring them to shower and change their clothing?

• Are there enough drinking points for employees, especially forthose undertaking physically demanding work?

• Is appropriate seating provided for employees?

Appendix 1

22

Some frequently asked questions Are there any building regulations that I need to be aware of?

Yes. The Building Code of Australia sets out requirements for thedesign, construction and modification of facilities in a building, aswell as specific provisions in relation to sanitary facilities. Theseprovisions are also regulated at the planning stage and duringconstruction or alteration by Local Government Authorities.

Is it necessary to provide eating and food preparation facilities foremployees?

Yes. However, the appropriate facility will vary from workplace toworkplace. Employees need to be provided with reasonable access tohygienic facilities for eating during meal breaks. This might simplymean provision of an area for boiling water, preparing and storingfood and washing utensils in the workplace. But if there is a risk tohealth and safety by food being contaminated by substances relatedto the work process, a separate dining or eating area will berequired.

Is it necessary to provide showers and change rooms for all employees?

Where some or all of an organisation’s employees undertake hot,dirty or arduous work, shower facilities should be provided. Changerooms, with secure personal lockers, should be provided where thenature of the work requires employees to change out of uniforms orprotective clothing before, during or after work.

Appendix 2

23

Amenities planning checklist

Assessment Factors, consider the following:

• Nature of work undertaken

• Size and location of the place of work

• Composition of the workforce (number of men and women)

• Type of workplace (permanent or temporary)

Planning amenities, consider the following:

• Toilets – numbers, location, management

• Rest area – location, management, alternative arrangements

• Shelter sheds – size, location

Appendix 3

24

• Seating – adequate number and type

• Dining rooms – size, location, seating, storage facilities

• Change rooms – size, location

• Clean drinking water – accessibility, presentation andtemperature

• Lockers – numbers, location, management

• Washing facilities (hand basins, showers) – numbers, location,management

Checking that the amenities are adequate

• Consider when the checks are made, how this is done and whodoes it

25

Sample Amenities Plan: Temporaryworkplace – Gardening

Amenities Plan

Toilets (as required by Building Code of Australia )• Separate male & female toilets available at depot. Staff can

use public toilets if required in gardens.

Rest rooms • Comfortable chair and blanket available in first aid room at the

depot.

Shelter sheds• Some of the gardens have public shelter accessible to

employees. Can also seek temporary shelter in vehicle, orreturn to depot.

Seating• Sit/stand chair provided in potting room, and comfortable

seating in lunchroom. Most other tasks done when standing orkneeling.

Dining rooms• Employees have the option of returning to base for lunch

where a lunchroom is provided, or taking lunch on site.Vehicles equipped with folding stools if latter is chosen.

Change room• Separate male & female change rooms provided at the depot.

Drinking water• Cool drinking water provided at depot, plus refrigerator for

other types of drinks.

• Workers take insulated individual flasks when off site.

Lockers• Lockable locker provided for each employee, located in change

room.

Washing Facilities• Hand basins located adjacent to male & female toilets;

employees can use garden taps if off site.

• One shower located adjacent to change rooms – with room tochange clothes and lockable door.

Appendix 4

Assessment ofAmenities Requirements

Nature of workperformed• Garden maintenance.

Employees gather toolsfrom depot at the start ofthe shift, and workoutdoors in pairs most ofthe day, returning to thedepot at the end of theday.

Size & location of theplace of work• Depot located in township

– gardens within 8 kms ofdepot.

Composition of theworkforce• 10 men and 3 women.

Type of workplace• Depot is a permanent

building, gardenmaintenance done attemporary sites.

Need for maintenance• Cleaning.

• Replenishing consumableitems.

* This is not an exhaustive checklist and is designed to illustrate the approach to planning for amenities.

26

Sample Amenities Plan: Permanentworkplace – Office

Amenities Plan

Toilets (as required by Building Code of Australia )• Toilet block located on 2nd floor.• Lift provides access for disabled.• Male – one toilet & urinal provided.• Female – four toilets provided.• Facilities for workers with disabilities – one unisex toilet

provided.

Rest rooms • Comfortable chair with blanket available in small alcove near

lunchroom on ground floor.

Shelter sheds• Not applicable, as all work is indoors.

Seating• All employees provided with fully adjustable office chair.• Kitchen area provided with comfortable, non-adjustable dining

chairs.

Dining rooms• Dining room on ground floor has tables and seating to

accommodate up to twenty persons at any one time, it also hasa kitchen.

• 2nd & 3rd floors have kitchenettes for boiling water & washingutensils.

Change room• Change rooms not provided.

Drinking water• Drinking water and refrigerators provided in kitchen &

kitchenettes.• Cool water dispenser in ground floor kitchen.

Lockers• Each employee has lockable drawer for personal belongings at

their workstation, or a locker or cabinet to store valuables on thesame level as their workstation.

Washing Facilities (as required by Building Code of Australia)• Hand basins located adjacent to male & female toilets.• Male – one hand basin provided.• Female – two hand basins provided.• Facilities for workers with disabilities – one hand basin provided.

Appendix 5

Assessment of AmenitiesRequirements

Nature of workperformed• Employees undertaking

general office work.

Size & location of theplace of work• Three-storey building

located in the centralbuilding district. All floorsin use.

Composition of theworkforce• 50 females and 20 males.

• Some staff havedisabilities.

Type of workplace• Permanent – building.

Need for maintenance• Cleaning.

• Replenishing consumableitems.

* This is not an exhaustive checklist and is designed to illustrate the approach to planning for amenities.

27

Notes

28

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